Side extension for cribs and the like



Jan. 20, 1953 .1. L. Moss SIDE EXTENSION FOR CRIBS AND THE LIKE Filed Jari. e, 1951 .1.' mme INVENTOR. JACQUES .Moss. BY

9 T Toms/E Patented Jan. 20, 1.953

PAT ENT OFF ICE.

y2",6f'35,694 SDEXTNSINJFOR (iR-'IBS NB THE-LIKE' .laminas M'oss, Detroit,y Mich. Application January 6, 1951,'S1erial No. 204,'125

The vpresent invention `pertains to a novel extension for the sliding-'gateoffaibaby v cri-b, play penl or the like.

The extensions of` this character-that are already known in the art-are secured-'rigidlyto the upper edge of the sliding gate. When the gate is lowered, such extensions remain upright on the gate and constitute objectionable obstruction to ingress to the interior ofthe enclosure.

The principal' 'object of" this invention is to provide an extension 'that can'easily be `folded so as to prevent the extension from being va barrier when entrance to the, enclosure or crib, is desired', especially when the sliding gate is lowered'. This is an improvement in childrens cribs and crib guard extensions, to provide novel' means to enhance safety and convenience in bedV making, etc. More particularly, the extension is hinged relatively to the gate and can be. swung downward or outward o n releasing alatch. In. this connection, this 'extension must beindependent of the fixedv posts ofl 'the structure; and another object ofthe invention is to provide an extension mounted'in ythis manner.

In the accomplishmentof these objects, a pair of clamps are tt'ed on vthe upper rail of the-sliding gate. To each. of. theA clamps ishinged the lower end of an arm, so that the arms swing upward toward', thecIamps and downward azway from the clamps. The arms carry a bar that lies above the upper railwhen thev arms are in. the raisedl position. The armsialso carry, releasable latches for attaching to the straps.

If desired, a single clamp and arm may be employed, and insucha construction the arm wouldv carry the extension. hay` centrally.; However, a preferred and more rigidconstruction is provided by the use of-two clamps andxarms so that the bar is supported--near-each end;

The invention is fully, disclosed by way of' example in thefollowing description and in the accompanying -drawings in which:

Figure ,1 is an inner sideviewof a crib equipped with the invention; Y

FigureV 2' is. a. section `on .thedine 2 2? of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a mcded form of latch, and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Reference to these views will now be made by y 42 use of like character" which are Aen'rpl'oye-d 'to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure l is shown a portion of' a baby crib and suiiicie'nt to illustrate 'a pair'- of posts I Abe tween which is -mounted'a vertically slidable gate 2. It will ybe understood that the invention is also applicable to analogous structures such as a play pen or the like. Rings 3v extending from the ends of the gate, at the top and bottom, are slidable on guide rods 4 mounted vertically on the posts I.

Any conventional stop meansv maybe used to retain the gate in the elevated position. Forexample, forks 5 areslidably mounted on the ends of the upper rail- 6 or the gate 2. The stems of the forks are sli-dable in vretaining sleeves 1 on the rail 6. 8 iixed on the rods 4. On each fork stem is an expanded coil spring `9 having its ends connected respectively -to the corresponding sleeve 'I and the innerend of: the stem, to draw the forked end over the adjacent collar 8. The forks are released from the collars by beingpulled inward against the tension ofthe springs;

On the upper rail 6 of the sliding gate 2 is mounted a pair ofv clamps, Veach comprising a hat strap I engaging the outer surface 'ofY the rail and a bent strap Il engaging the inner surface of the rail. rIhe ends of the strap II are thusY brought against the ends of the strap Iand are secured to the strap I'El by any suitable means such as bolt and nut assemblies designated by the numeral I2., Felt linings may be, secured to the straps or to the sidesof the rail IiA to prevent marring by direct4 contact of; metal 'to wood;

To the lower end of each strap IIlL is attached the lower end of an arm I4 by means-'of a hinge I5. The arm M' is considerably longer than the strap I'Ufora purpose that willpresently appear. The upper end. of each arm is bent to form a socket I6v cooperating` with a complementary member 'I fastened tothe upper end of the arm by a bolt and' nut assembly I8. Two substantially circular sockets. are thus formed for the purpose` of,v retaining anextensibn bar I9 that stands parallel to 'the rail 6 and a suitable dise tance above it.

Before assembling the bar I9, a slide 20 is mounted on each arm I4 and is of sucient size to embrace the adjacent strap IIJ shown in Figure 2. A cup 2l is formed to the back of the slide 20. Through the cylindervand back of the slide is mounted a slidable pin 23 having a knob 24 outside the cylinder while the inner end is adapted to enter a hole 25 in the arm I4 at a The forked ends rest upon collars point adjacent to the upper end lof the corresponding strap I9. Thus, the slide is locked to the arm i4 while embracing the strap I0. The pin is held in the hole 25 by a surrounding coil spring 26 mounted in the cylinder 2l and bearing on a collar or pin 2l' secured to the locking l pin 23.

The slide 29 is also formed with a pair of inwardly stamped tongues that extend over the edges of the arm I4 and between the arm and the adjacent strap IG when the slide is locked. The tongues 23 retain the slide in a restrained sliding engagement with the arm I4 when the slide is moved oli the upper end of the strap ID and the pin 23 bears on the surface of the arm. A rubber bumper 29 is inserted between the arm I4 and the strap l0 below the slide in the locked position of the latter.

In order to obtain access to the infant in the crib or play pen, the extension is swung downward either before or after dropping the gate 2 as desired, in the usual manner. In order to swing the extension downward, the pins 23 are `first pulled out of the holes 25 in the arms Ui. The slides 29 are then moved upward to clear the upper ends of the straps it, and the bar it* is then free to swing downward with the arms on the hinges l5. When the gate 2 is to be raised, the extension is elevated and latched in the reverse manner.

Figure shows a. modiiied form of latch. Each or the arms M, and the adjacent strap Iii has a vertical slot 3i opposite the opening 313. A housing or fitting 32 is mounted on the outer surface of the arm i4; over the opening 39, and a latch rod 33 is rotatably mounted in the housing and opening. Outward of the housing the rod carries a handle or knob 34, while the free or inner end oi the rod is formed as a hook 35 adapted to pass through the slot 3l while lying lengthwise thereof. A torsion spring 36 within the housing 32 surrounds the rod 33, with one end secured thereto and the other end secured to the housing. The spring is tensioned so that it turns the rod 33 to a position wherein the hook 35 traverses the slot 3i and is thereby latched against the strap i9. When it is desired to swing the arm id downward, the knob 34 is merely turned to aline the hook 35 with the opening 3| for passage therethrough.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. An extension for the side of a crib, play pen or the like, comprising a strap, means for clamping said strap vertically on the upper edge of such side, said strap and said means having opposed and spaced vertical clamping surfaces between which such side is receivable, a vertical arm having its lower end hinged to said strap, a bar carried by the upper end of said arm and perpendicular to said arm, and means for latching said arm to said strap.

2. An extension for the side of a crib, play pen or the like, comprising a. strap, means for clamping said strap vertically on the upper edge of such side, said strap and said means having opposed and spaced vertical clamping surfaces between which such side is receivable, a vertical arm having its lower end hinged to said strap, a bar carried by the upper end of said arm and perpendicular to said arm, said bar lying upward beyond said strap, a slide on said arm and adapted to embrace said strap, and means for latching said slide to said arm at a point opposite said strap.

3. An extension for the side of a crib, play pen or the like, comprising a strap, means for clamping said strap vertically on the upper edge of such side, said strap and said means having opposed and spaced vertical clamping surfaces between which such side is receivable, a vertical arm having its lower end hinged to said strap, a bar carried by the upper end of said arm and perpendicular to said arm, said bar lying upward beyond said strap, a slide on said arm and adapted to embrace said strap, said arm having an aperture at a point opposite said strap, and a springpressed pin carried by said slide and adapted to enter said aperture.

4. An extension for the side of a crib', play pen or the like, comprising a pair of spaced straps, means for clamping said straps vertically on the upper edge of such side, said straps and said means having opposed and vertical clamping surfaces between which such side is receivable, a pair of vertical arms having their lower ends hinged respectively to said straps, a bar carried by the upper ends of said arms and perpendicular to said arms, and means for latching said arms to said straps.

5. An extension for the side of a crib, play pen or the like, comprising a strap, means for clamping said strap vertically on the upper edge of such side, said strap and said means having opposed and spaced vertical clamping surfaces between which such side is receivable, a vertical arm having its lower end hinged to said strap, a bar carried perpendicularly by the upper end of said arm and perpendicular to said arm, and a hooked releasable latch passed through said arm and strap.

JACQUES L. MOSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 677,671 Lausen July 2, 1901 2,195,955 Hillenbrand Apr. 22, 1940 2,455,340 Newman Nov. 30, 1948 2,587,291 Des Rochers Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 252,296 Germany Oct. 17, 1912 520.823 Great Britain May 3, 1949 

